Hard Work Paying Off For Cross-Country Standout

Fair Lawn High School’s reigning Boys Cross-Country MVP Adam Ross has emerged as one of the top runners, if not the top runner, in the league this year.

A First Team All-League and Honorable Mention All-County selection last year, the Cutters’ soft-spoken senior captain has propelled this year’s team to a top-13 ranking in all of North Jersey.

Coach Kevin Orfe said it’s a testament to the amount of hard work and preparation Ross has put into training since his freshman year.

“Going back to junior track he was fast, and he has gotten stronger,” Orfe said, “but he has also continued to work. I think a lot of times kids just get distracted, they don’t work as hard in the offseason. They go down the shore, hang out with their friends or play video games, and they don’t really want to put in the work that it takes to stay competitive.”

Ross, 17, has put in the work and then some. He began training on his own before the team did this summer in hopes of beating his top time from last year – which he already has.

His ultimate goal is to cut his time in the standard 3.1-mile race down as close to 16 minutes as possible.

So far, Ross’ best time has been a 16:45 at Darlington Park, but Orfe expects that to improve.

“Every one of these kids gets a little bit better as the season progresses, working towards, hopefully, the last meet they run their best time,” he said. “So [Adam’s] time, I’m sure, is going to be even better than 16:45.”

Ross has won every race at dual meets this fall, except at Old Tappan, where he finished third running on short rest.

Orfe said he’s hopeful that a fresh Ross will be able to revenge that defeat at the end-of-year league meet and finish the season as the league’s top runner.

At this point, Ross, who also runs winter and spring track, isn’t sure if he’ll continue running competitively next year in college.

He’s yet to apply anywhere, but said he plans to study in-state and major in computer science.

Whether or not Ross runs in college, he said he won't be giving up the sport any time soon, and aspires to compete in long-distance road races in the future.

For now, though, he’s focused on the present, and reaching that elusive 16 minutes.